Strongest Swordman’s Re:START-Chapter 23: Beatdown
CHAPTER 23 – BEATDOWN
The Ghezo Velche didn’t approach Merc, most likely because it was thinking about its shattered canines from the previous exchange. It seems wary of Merc.
“What’s wrong? If you won’t come, then I will1.”
Merc sent the Mana focused on her legs towards the ground and shot forward at the Ghezo Velche as she said that.
“Grrr?”
When Merc charged at it with her wooden stick raised, the Ghezo Velche stiffened, but it managed to evade Merc’s blow to the right. It then swung its left front leg forward, exposing its claws.
Merc was a moment late to react to the attack.
That was mostly due to the fact that the Ghezo Velche’s canines hadn’t ever actually left a scratch on her. And, like most typical Magic Beasts or even normal beasts, the Ghezo Velche’s canines were sharper and stronger than its claws. In other words, Merc didn’t have to worry about the Ghezo Velche’s claws because she had previously blocked its canines. She didn’t see the purpose in avoiding the attack.
Which is why her reaction was delayed.
“What?”
As soon as she noticed that, Merc quickly turned her body and evaded the Ghezo Velche’s claws.
Merc then felt a stinging sensation in the area where the claw had scraped her cheek, and she cursed her ignorance.
“So you’re fighting Mana Hardening with Mana Hardening huh… To think that you’d be able to pull it off…”
Merc had just avoided the Ghezo Velche’s claw because she had noticed that the claw was covered in Mana. It was the same hardened Mana that also encircled Merc’s entire body.
Because it was the same, it came down to whether a Magic Beast’s claw or a human’s skin was stronger.
Merc, thankfully, had escaped with only a minor scratch.
Merc also deduced from the exchange that her Mana Hardening was levels higher than the Ghezo Velche’s. That meant that even if she was hit, she would only be hurt slightly. Even if Merc was hit, she could always boost her Mana output to strengthen the hardening and escape unscathed.
Still, I shouldn’t let my guard down. It’s best that I avoid them completely.
Merc corrected her views and focused carefully on her enemy after becoming aware that her opponent’s attacks could harm her.
As she did, the Ghezo Velche, who had gained some confidence after its previous attack had succeeded, chose to attack this time.
It kicked the ground and lunged at Merc, raising its right foot high in the air. The Ghezo Velche moved at a rate that no regular adventurer could keep up with, but Merc could see everything.
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It was certainly fast, however…
Merc had already gotten used to such speed in her past life.
“Come on!”
Merc avoided the Ghezo Velche’s approaching strike and then countered it with a Mana-covered fist straight in its face.
“Yelp?!”
After having its face smashed in, the Ghezo Velche flew back and rolled on the ground. Nonetheless, it rapidly recovered and adjusted itself, as if the previous attack had caused minimal damage.
Despite the fact that the Ghezo Velche’s claws should have been the only place hardened with Mana, Merc felt like her fist hadn’t hit anything. The Ghezo Velche had most likely jumped back before Merc’s fist could reach it.
“This is the problem with Mana Hardening. The feeling conveyed simply isn’t the same…2 Hm?”
Merc sensed Mana accumulating around the Ghezo Velche’s throat as she was looking down at her fist and jumped to the right.
When the Ghezo Velche opened its mouth, a fireball flew towards Merc’s prior position. The field was set ablaze as soon as it landed.
Its force was so great that the ground started to melt. Even with Mana Hardening, if one were to be hit by it, they would not get out unscathed.
“Awooooo!”
The Ghezo Velche prepped for a second attack after Merc dodged its first.
It propelled itself forward using the flames from its flame wings as jet boosters. Its present speed was slightly faster than before.
“I can still see you.”
Merc remained calm as the Ghezo Velche fiercely charged at her. True, she could see its attack coming, but avoiding it was a whole different matter.
In truth, she barely managed to evade the claws coming non-stop from both sides. She didn’t have the luxury of counterattacking as she had done before.
This was a spectral demonstration of the prowess of a high-grade Magic Beast.
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Don’t look down on me, would you?
When the Ghezo Velche realized its opponent couldn’t fight back, it rained down blows nonstop. Merc, instead of evading this time, decided to charge in on the Ghezo Velche’s right foot.
“Grrr?”
Merc charged in closer to the inner part of the Ghezo Velche’s right foot, hitting the foot with her head, rather than rushing straight into the Mana Hardened claw.
Naturally, Merc’s Mana Hardened head was unfazed by such a strike. The Ghezo Velche’s foot, on the other hand, took quite the hit.
Merc’s head attack was the start of her retaliation.
“Eat this!”
“Yip!!!”
Merc struck the side of the Ghezo Velche’s body with her wooden stick, sending it flying once again. The Ghezo Velche, on the other hand, was unable to avoid the impact this time. It was having difficulty getting up due to the direct hit.
“I guess this one worked.”
The Ghezo Velche shook its head and adjusted itself after finally standing up, but its uneasiness was visible in its eyes.
It was obvious that it had not entirely recovered from the last blow.
This is my chance.
Merc rushed forward, not waiting for her opponent to regain its composure. As Merc raised her wooden stick3, she noticed the Ghezo Velche’s attention shift to her and its eyes light up.
“…!!!”
“Grrr!”
The Mana that the Ghezo Velche had been hoarding erupted once it opened its mouth, transforming the region into a sea of fire.
Merc found herself in the center of a sea of flames, completely helpless, yet she swung her wooden stick down, aiming directly for the Ghezo Velche’s head.
“Yelp?!”
The Ghezo Velche had most likely anticipated Merc would try and avoid its attack.
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Merc, on the other hand, had rushed in, seizing the opportunity to assault the vulnerable Ghezo Velche.
“cough … Phew, it really is a bit hot in there.”
Merc emerged completely uninjured as the flames calmed down.
Her cheek was a shade of black, and the ends of her sleeves and pants were charred, but that was it.
“It would have been bad if I hadn’t increased my Mana output quickly. Still…”
Merc stood quietly, staring at the motionless Ghezo Velche on the ground.
Its tongue protruded from its mouth, and its head was concaved where she had struck it.
The flames that had wrapped its wings had also faded, leaving only crimson specks here and there.
Anyone could tell that the Ghezo Velche had died just by looking at it.
“It’s my win.”
4
Robinxen: I thought you were meant to be a healer!!!! Robinxen: Proposed alternative title “Help, my healer has multiclassed into berserker!” Robinxen: I completely forgot she didn’t have a sword. Robinxen: Subjugation complete!
